Lake Anquira
| Lake Anquira | |
|---|---|
 View of the lake | |
| Location | Pecario |
| Type | Lake |
| Basin countries | Pecario |
| Surface area | 50 sq mi (130 km2) |
| Average depth | 505 ft (154 m) |
| Max. depth | 1,110 ft (340 m) |
| Water volume | 20 km3 (16,000,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface elevation | 5,100 ft (1,600 m) |
Lake Anquira, ( Iberic: Lago Anquira; Andyo: Anquira Gola) is a large freshwater lake in Pecario. It is the second largest lake in Pecario.
Name
The Lake Chakumiri derives its name from the Andyo language. Lake Anquira, the second-largest lake in Pecario, derives its name from the ancient Quepec people who believed the waters were a sacred mirror of the skies. The term 'Anquira' is thought to mean 'shining waters' in their language.
Agriculture
The area supports extensive coffee and avocado orchards and a variety of farm crops, most notably corn and onions. Significant agricultural crops include: corn, onions, beans, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, chile verde, strawberries and pitahaya fruit. The lake itself is a significant food source for the largely indigenous population.
Culture
The lake is surrounded by many villages in which Andyo culture is still prevalent and traditional dress is worn. During the Iberic conquest of the Tuachec Empire, the inhabitants initially allied themselves with the invaders but were themselves conquered and subdued when they refused to pay tribute to the Iberics.
Santiago Anquira is the largest of the lakeside communities, and it is noted for its worship of San Martinal, an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Andyo deities, Tacolic saints, and conquistador legends.
While Andyo culture is predominant in most lakeside communities, Panco has been overwhelmed over the years by Pecarian and foreign tourists. The town's economy is almost entirely reliant on tourism today. Since the early 2000s, the lake has become a major tourist destination. Numerous eco-friendly luxury resorts have been established in the communities surrounding the lake. However, the actual environmental management of these so-called eco-villages has been questioned by several organizations. They have specifically criticized the creation of a golf course and the construction of casinos, which they claim undermine the natural beauty of the area.
Several Andyo archeological sites have been found at the lake. There are remains of multiple groups of buildings, including one particular group of large buildings that are believed to have been the city center.
Legend of Anquira’s Mirror
According to Andyo legends, Lake Anquira was not a natural formation but the creation of the goddess Quira, the Weaver of Reflections. Quira was said to be a celestial being who wove the light of the stars into shimmering threads. She watched over the Andyo people from her place in the sky, admiring their devotion to harmony and nature. However, a great drought struck the land, threatening the survival of the Andyo. The rivers ran dry, crops withered, and the people prayed fervently for salvation.
Moved by their plight, Quira descended to the earth disguised as a humble weaver. She visited the leader of the Andyo, a wise woman named Telayu, and asked her to gather every polished stone and shard of obsidian in the land. Once collected, Quira spun the stones into a great reflective tapestry that she laid across the earth. From the sky, she called forth the rains, and the waters pooled into what became Lake Anquira. The lake’s surface, smooth and reflective like a mirror, was said to hold the memory of the goddess’s woven threads. It became a sacred place where the Andyo people went to seek guidance, as legends claimed that gazing into the lake during the full moon would reveal visions of their future or the will of the goddess.
Generations later, a young chieftain named Mazul doubted the lake’s power and mocked the stories of Quira’s sacrifice. To prove his disdain, he ordered his warriors to fish the lake’s depths for the stones Quira had woven. As the first net was cast, a great storm arose, and a massive wave swallowed the warriors' boats. The lake's surface turned dark, as though the goddess had withdrawn her light.
Since that day, it is said that Lake Anquira can reveal not only the future but also the regrets of those who gaze into its waters. Villagers speak of shadowy figures walking the lake’s shores on stormy nights—ghosts of those who defied the goddess. To this day, locals leave offerings of polished stones at the water’s edge to honor Quira and ensure her blessings. It is a site of annual festivals, where boats decorated with silver streamers sail across the lake under moonlight. Children are told to respect the waters, and elders whisper that Quira’s mirror still holds the power to guide or punish those who seek its depths.
Gallery
Fisherman on the Lake
View from Hotel Anquira near Panco
Volcan Telayú and the lake
Sunrise on the lake
